South Korean XRP Investors See Huge Gains as Bitcoin ETFs Drive Market Growth

Over 70% of South Korean investors in XRP, Bitcoin (BTC), and Ethereum (ETH) saw profits in 2024, according to a recent report shared by Chinese crypto journalist Colin Wu. XRP ranked second among Korean investor holdings at 16.44%, trailing only Bitcoin at 21.31%. Ethereum followed with 7.75%, with meme coins like DOGE (6.59%), SOL (4.04%), SHIB (1.69%), and PEPE (2.36%) also featured in portfolios.

Bitcoin’s popularity was largely driven by the launch of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024. These financial products attracted long-term investors, while short-term holders were influenced by Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election. Overall, 33% of investors in Korea were new to the market last year.

Trump’s administration has also sparked interest in Bitcoin by establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), although immediate purchases are unlikely due to the U.S. government already holding nearly 200,000 BTC seized from criminal activities like Silk Road. The SBR is expected to hold Bitcoin long-term, while other altcoins in the government’s crypto stockpile could be sold based on market conditions.

South Koreans primarily used Binance and Upbit for crypto trading in 2024, relying on Telegram and YouTube for market insights. In 2025, meme coins like DOGE saw further exposure with new listings on Bithumb.

Looking ahead, 75% of Korean crypto investors anticipate a bullish BTC trend in 2025, with expectations for Bitcoin to break the ₩150 million mark—approximately $102,000. As investor confidence grows and global crypto policy evolves, Korea remains a key market to watch.